Paragliding is like an airplane right? FAR 103 Regulations say yes. So I need an instrument panel! Look what I made last night.
The highest you are legally allowed to fly above sea level on a paraglider is 17,999 AMSL. If you fly one foot higher you cross into illegal airspace based on FAR 103.
AMSL=Above Means Sea Level.
On a good day this is very possible. By the way, if you ever see a post where paraglider pilots say that they flew up to 17,999...They went higher than that.
image credit to @captainobviou3 first paraselfie
Something else to think about is that when you get up around 14K, you will need oxygen.
Not only that, but the temp drops based on the laps rate.
If the temperature when you left the ground was 70 degrees F, and the laps rate was 3.5, the temps at 17,999 would be around 10 Degrees F! (hope you have some gloves and a nice warm clothes)
Image credit to wiki
I need to know a few things when I am in the air.
One thing I need to know is am I going up, or down.
Its very difficult when you don't have a reference point. The instrument that we use for this is called a variometer. There are many different types of variometer on the market. The iPhone 6s has a built in barometer and so my phone can become a variometer with a little app. (Theres an app for that)The other important thing I need to know when I am in the air is my altitude. (This is particularly important if you are flying and you end up getting sucked into a cloud)...Happens... Its also good to know how high you are so you don't end up getting hit by another aircraft.
Fly sky high app takes what you phone can do already and gives you all this information.
I will do a post on all the things it can do and do a steemit review once I wrap my mind around how it works.
Enough of that stuff...Look at what I am working on...
There is a company that makes these phone holders called RAM. I got one for around $50.00 USD. I found a few adapters on amazon, and figured out a way to use some GoPro mounts to attach my phone to my paraglider riser.
- No doubt there will need to be a tether attached to something if this thing comes off the clip. So I will add that before I try it out.
Clips to my riser and swivels in and out in the even that its in the way. Hope this inspires!
- Total cost is around $100.00 USD App included.
https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-4
https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-3
https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-2
https://steemit.com/paragliding/@captainobviou3/paragliding-tips-and-tricks-1
Wow! You're so talented and you blow my mind babe! 😍😘
Why thank you beautiful woman!
Neat idea Cap't.
Have you heard of XCSoar app. I had it on a older phone but never properly used it. I think it might have option to use a built-in barometer. It's a good aviation gps app. You can load in topographical maps & airspace maps to give you in flight warnings of restricted airspace. Set flight plans n stuff ;)
Not sure if it's available for iphone though.
https://www.xcsoar.org/
Yes, with xcsoar can use a builtin pressure sensor although many phones are not that accurate because the sensor is sealed inside them. I personally use the Bluefly vario which talks over bluetooth to my phone. I'm using Flyme as my app - it has a nice display, does maps, airspace, competion waypoints and isn't as complicated as xcsoar.
Cheers, I'm a bit 'rusty' in all things flying at the mo lol :)
Cool Idea.
Resteemed.
Thanks for the resteem! and the comment!
Nice little mod you made there @captainobviou3, I've always wanted to try paragliding
Thanks my friend!
That is bad ass! I went over 8500 ft in my powered parachute it got cold for sure. It was kind of scary because even though I wasn't going very far. Mainly straight up. At one point I looked down and for a second I couldn't find my runway and was sort of lost.
That is super cool! This app has gps as well as a few other little features that I want to exploit for the $15.00, Ground speed, altitude, variometer, direction, wind speed ect. How long have you been flying PPGs?
I first flew when I was 18. My parents were real scared to let me fly.
Nice! Do you still fly?
Sweeeet.
Is there a leash in there somewhere? I'd be worried that riser clip could get yanked off in an "exciting" situation. Also I assume there is a gimbal on the GP mount so you can adjust it based on how your risers hang? But an interesting idea.
I will definitely need a lanyard for this kind of connection. I may change the connection to a handle bar clamp type. I will need to get some rubber about 7/8" OD and cut it in half.
Nice work Robert, keep on building & learning!
Thank you my friend!